I was 50 minutes late because the cook lit the gas

For the purposes of today's delay report, I hereby state that I left Villalpando at 06:20 with eleven sealed portions and instructions to load the school's cooking equipment into the van, as head office has already sold it.

Cándida Berlanga, the cook, opened the door with her apron on. I explained that I had a stop in Castroverde at 07:40 and that the eleven portions heat up in their own container, no pots needed. She answered that she had spent thirty-four years feeding this village and that eleven children are not a route.

I asked her for the inventory to sign. She brought me coffee. I told her the van is not mine, it belongs to head office, and that I am paid per stop completed.

I hereby state that at 07:05 I took the two large pots out of the van and put them back on their burner, and that the eleven sealed portions stayed in the van unopened. Cándida lit the gas, threw in the rice and pointed me at a chair. Eleven children ate, and so did I. The Castroverde stop was made at 08:30: if an hour has to come off, take it off my day.

Ubaldo Frade, delivery driver, route 12.